Author: julialclc

As we approach the end of term, its an opportunity to highlight some of the opportunities staff and children have taken part in this term, as part of the Brixton Learning Collaborative.First we have had a number of meetings for staff across our schools – for Heads, Deputies, Year group meetings for years 1 through to 6, SENCOs, EYFS staff, School Business Managers and RE leads. Thanks to all the staff who have participated and shared their practice across the cluster this term.
We are delighted that younger children have been able to attend performances of String Theatre’s production of the Red Balloon at Longfield Hall by Myatts Fields Park. Nursery and Reception children from Christ Church Primary, Loughborough Primary and St Saviour’s Primary have all taken part. Older children from Jessop and St John’s Angell Town have also seen the production of Snow White at the Oval House Theatre. We are looking forward to working more with Oval House as they get ready for their move to Brixton in 2019, including after school drama opportunities for St Gabriel’s and Evelyn Grace Academy.
The South Bank Centre hosted our steering group at the beginning of term, together with a visit to the Hayward Gallery exhibition Shape Shifters. Since then our schools have visited the South Bank for gamelan workshops, storywriting INSET and the start of a 3 year programme of Arts support for St Saviour’s and St John Divine Primaries.
Half term saw 2 terrific performances from St John’s Angell Town year 5 children, joining local choirs and performers from Pegasus Opera in Windrush celebrations at Brixton Library and Town Hall.
Our 2 year programme of Teacher Development, Confident Creators, funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation, has been delivered 4 training sessions for participating teachers together with 15 visits to schools from our artistic team which includes Pegasus Opera and visual artist Liz Atkin. In addition the Partnership Manager has met and worked with colleagues from 5 other Paul Hamlyn Funded projects across the country all working to embed the Arts in the Primary Curriculum.
Our girls football training sessions were kindly hosted by the Powerleague team at The Black Prince Trust community hub. Girls were coached by by staff from Archbishop Sumner and St John’s Angell Town Primaries and we look forward to getting a girls’ football league started in the Spring.
The New Year will see a continuation of many programmes and staff meetings, as well as primary hockey matches, our Science Fair hosted by St Gabriel’s College, a STEM expo event hosted by Effra Nursery for all ages and a Team London event for school councils.
Thanks to all our schools for supporting each other over the last few busy months and we wish everyone a very happy Christmas and New Year.

Yesterday year 3 children experimented with mark making in response to music stimuli in their Confident Creators lesson. The process was led by their class teacher guided by Pegasus Opera. The children began by looking at different marks and interpreting them through sounds. They then listened to 3 pieces in different genres: Jackson 5, jazz piece Take 5 and part of a Beethoven symphony. The children experimented making their own marks to the music as they listened, discussing their responses, then adding colour to their work. The children were very active listeners and learners throughout. We look forward to developing this class’s art skills and encouraging them to experiment, create and reflect on their work next term, when their teacher starts working with Art practitioner Liz Atkin.

Yesterday the year 2 children from St Saviour’s, led by the class teacher Miss Jones, explored creating habitats, using charcoal mark making, The process was structured to give the children a rich creative experience through first exploring making nest structures using twigs and leaves, experimenting with charcoal to make marks and fusing the ideas together to make a range of exciting habitat pieces to exhibit. Throughout the term, the children and their teacher have been on a creative journey, facilitated by themselves, guided by artist Liz Atkin, as part of our Paul Hamlyn Foundation funded programme. It has been wonderful to see how the children have grown in confidence to experiment and show their creative skills.